This volume takes an ecofeminist perspective in analysing societal changes related to energy transition, with a focus on Upper Silesia in Europe, following the closure of coal-mining industries in the region. It provides both a macro and micro view of how energy transition in societies built around an energy industry can lead to major shifts in societal and familial dynamics, and how women locate themselves in this transition period affecting the economy as well as social and environmental structures and values. Densely populated Upper Silesia in southern Poland, with one of the longest histories of industrialization, extractivism and environmental degradation in Europe, can be considered as a microcosm of regions that have undergone such changes due to energy transition. The traces of telling socio-economic changes, as well as the tangle of modernity and conservatism, are both clearly visible in the local region and society. The book documents the Silesian changes and highlights the female perspective: their culture, identities, as well as empowerment and the agency. The paradigm of feminist and masculinity studies helps in presenting the complexity and the challenges of the just energy transition.
This is a topical volume, given that many regions of the world are undergoing similar changes, and is an interesting read for decision-makers, policy experts, environmentalists, as well social scientists who study issues related to sustainability and environmental/societal challenges in energy transition.
Author(s): Katarzyna Iwińska, Xymena Bukowska
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 234
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
Women´s Agency in a World of Flux: On Silesian Energy Transition
Women and Energy Transition in Upper Silesia: An Introduction
About Silesia: A ``Black Gold´´ Region
Industrial Silesia and the Green Deal
A Gender Gap in the Energy Transition Process
More Theoretical Inspirations
Women in Silesia: The Structure of the Volume
Conclusion
References
Part I
Ecofeminism and Social Reproduction: Towards Subsistence Economies
Introduction: Ecofeminism of Subsistence
Ecofeminist Genealogies
The Myth of Mother Earth and Catch-Up Development
Conclusions: Towards Ecofeminist Reproduction of Life
References
A Morphogenetic Approach to Social Aspects of Energy: The Case of Coal
Energy Research and Social Theory
Distinctive Features of the Morphogenetic Approach
Coal as a Precondition of Industrial Modernity
Semi-Social Structures: Material, Technology, Environment
Morphogenetic Elaboration in the European Coal Heartlands
Social Structure Conditions: Explicit, Implicit, Latent
Steps Towards a Comprehensive Research Strategy
References
Women Engendering the Just Energy Transition
Introduction
The Gender-Energy Nexus: A Policy Perspective
The Gender-Energy Nexus
Enabling Conditions to Engender Energy Transition
Women as Change Agents in the Energy Transition
Gender Just Energy Transition
Conclusion
References
Part II
Cultural Identity of Upper Silesia. The Difficult Relationship Between National and Regional Culture
Why the Upper Silesians Could Be Considered as Cultural Minority?
Historical Background of the Relations Between Regional and National (German and Polish) Culture in Upper Silesia
Institutional Aspects of Cultural Domination in Upper Silesia
The Process of Institutionalisation of Regional Consciousness and Its Impact on Inter-Ethnic Relations in the Contemporary Upp...
Between the ``Open´´ and ``Closed´´ Vision of Regional Culture. Unsolved Dilemmas?
References
Restructuring of the Mining Sector in Silesian Voivodship from the Gender Perspective
Restructuring in the Gender Perspective
On the Specifics of the Restructuring of Silesian Voivodship
The Restructuring Policy Towards the Coal Mining Industry and Gender
On the Effects of Restructuring in the Experience of Women Dismissed from Mining Companies
Women in the Mine After the Restructuring of Mining
In Conclusion
References
Place of Professional Work in the Life of Silesian Women
Introduction
The Concept of Changes in Ronald Inglehart´s Value System: Application to Empirical Research
The Value of Work and Employee Roles of Silesian Women: Socio-historical Analysis
Contemporary Silesian Women and Their Professional Work
Methodological Grounding of Research
Female Professions: Male Professions. Are They Still Stereotypically Perceived?
Professional Work of Silesian Women and Income Contributed to the Household
Work Motivation and Satisfaction
Socio-occupational Mobility
Conclusions
References
Transformations of Female and Male Models in Post-mining Communities
Introduction
Comments on Methodology and Theory
Reconstructed Femininity
Modified Traditional Femininity
Modern Femininity
Reconstructed Masculinity
Traditional Masculinity
Modified Traditional Masculinity
Modern Masculinity
Summary
References
Part III
Silesian Women´s Situated Identity and the Question of Subjectivity: The Power of the Past and Promise of the Future
Introduction
The Historical and Cultural Landscape
``Situated´´ Subjectivity: Between Tradition and Modernization
To Be or Not to Be a Silesian
Time-Pattern of Subjectivity: Positioning Toward the Change
Position A. The Past: Full Rootedness in the Local (Family) Tradition Grants a Strong Sense of Agency
Position B. The Present: A Lack of Rootedness in the Local Tradition Limits Access to Many Dimensions of the Social Reality
Position C. The Future: A Lack of Rootedness in the Local Tradition Lends the Possibility of a Supra-regional Identity
Conclusion: The Re-imagined Female Community
References
Green and Black Silesia: Environmental Awareness of Women in a Coal Mining Region
Introduction
Environmental Protection and the Perception of Change
Green Silesia: Discursive and Practical Environmental Awareness
Black Silesia: Coal as a Polish Taboo
Polish Energy Strategy and a (Just) Energy Transition
Our House Is on Fire: Ecological Feminism Revisited?
Conclusion
References
Heated Attachments to Coal: Everyday Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity and Domestic Heating in the Silesian Home
Introduction
Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity: Coal´s Historic Enrolment in Patriarchal Domestic Authorities and Affections
Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculinity´s Instability and Decline
Labours of Dignity and Care: Coal, Coal Stoves, and Protecting Industrial Breadwinning Petro-Masculine Self-Worth
Conclusion: Anti-Ecological, Industrial Petro-Masculinist Populism to the Rescue
References
Index
